In this video, Michio Hikitsuchi Sensei, recipient of a 10th dan from Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba, demonstrates Katatedori Kokyunage and Morotedori Kokyunage. Michio Hikitsuchi (1923-2004) operated the Kumano Juku dojo in Shingu, Wakayama-ken, for over 50 years. Beginning in the 1970s, he made frequent trips abroad to the USA and Europe conducting seminars…

An extraordinary video of the late Nobuyoshi Tamura Sensei, 8th dan, explaining and demonstrating a very high level technique of a sophistication seldom seen. Tamura Sensei was one of the most skilled teachers of the postwar era. He was dispatched to France in 1964 and spent the rest of his career as one of the major aikido instructors in Europe…

Daily practice begins with tai no henko. First open your fingers. The basis of ura movements is footwork. Bring the toes of your left foot to meet the toes of your partner’s right foot. Turn in a circular movement into a position along your partner’s side. When pivoting, open your fingers fully and extend your ki. Learn to keep your hips stable regardless of whether your partner pushes or pulls…

When watching videos across the spectrum, I am constantly amazed at how many practitioners and teachers alike attempt to apply techniques on a “balanced” uke. Another way of expressing this is that nage has failed to disrupt uke’s posture before attempting a throw. This is especially obvious when uke takes a spectacular fall. An uke whose body structure has been broken will not have the chance to perform an acrobatic fall. Add your comments to the discussion!…

This is a video shot in Dublin, Ireland, in February 2013, in which Systema instructor Martin Wheeler demonstrates how to break his opponent’s body structure through targeted strikes to key muscle groups of the body. These sorts of approaches may easily be incorporated into aikido techniques. Notice the varied effects and targets of the applied strikes to aid in balance breaking…

This is a rare video of the late Seigo Yamaguchi Sensei, 8th dan, instructing a class in Osaka in 1986. Yamaguchi Sensei displays an incredible ability to stay “glued” to his uke and continuously adjust his posture and contact to keep his partner unbalanced. Very sophisticated aikido by one of the art’s greats!…

Particular points to watch for are Nishio Sensei’s initial set up movements, often accompanied by atemi strikes, rapidity and precision during application of techniques, and final controling movements and pins. In this system, for the most part, empty-handed techniques (taijutsu) have corresponding movements using the ken and jo…

Aikido Journal Editor Stanley Pranin will be instructing at the Friendship Seminar hosted by the Fundamental Aikido Association March 1-2, 2014 in Aywaille, Belgium. This will be an excellent opportunity to learn from three direct disciples of Morihiro Saito, 9th dan, in the center of Europe. The seminar will include both empty-handed and weapons techniques…

This is a wonderful old video on Katori Shinto-ryu featuring Headmaster Risuke Otake Sensei. This is Japan’s oldest classical martial arts school. Otake Sensei, his son, and senior practitioners put on a superb demonstration of sections of the vast weapons curriculum of the school. The skill level displayed is quite extraordinary. Kata using the bokken, iaito, bo, naginata, etc. are shown. The live blade forms demonstrated by Otake Sensei at the 9:40 mark are amazing to behold!…

Certain people in the world of Japanese martial arts began to doubt that aikido was a martial art. This doubt concerning the martial nature of aikido is often voiced both in Japan and abroad. We have done our best to convey the words of O-Sensei to present-day practitioners and exemplify these principles in our own practice…

Who is Koichi Tohei and why is he so important to an understanding of the development of aikido? Should he be unceremoniously deleted from aikido history due to past grievances or should he be given due credit for his role in the shaping of the art of aikido?…

We are pleased to present the first of a series of video clips featuring movie action star Steven Seagal taken at a seminar in San Jose, California in 1990. This seminar took place just at the time of the ascent of his movie career, and as such is a rare event. Seagal Sensei is in fine form, his teaching style dynamic, and technical explanations direct and to the point. His uke here is Haruo Matsuoka Sensei. For the period, the video quality of the seminar is excellent with clear audio. As such, viewers will gain insight into the reasons why so many people were captured by his skills and charisma both on the mat and on the movie screen which contributed greatly to his rise to fame…